DK Travel : Amsterdam : Begijnhof

Begijnhof

No one has rated this yet.

Rate it

Review this attraction

Are these details incorrect?

Away from the bustle of the city, this bewitching sanctuary of elegant houses around a tranquil green was founded in 1346 for the members of a lay Catholic sisterhood, the Beguines, the last of whom died in 1971. Although none of the original buildings survive – nor the early design in which the courtyard was surrounded by water – there is a fascinating example of a 15th-century wooden house, a lovely church of the same period, and an appealing hidden chapel. Visitors are asked to respect the privacy of the current residents.
More on hofjes

Top 10 Features

1. Engelse Kerk

Before the Alteration, the Beguines worshipped in this pretty 15th-century church. Confiscated in 1578, it was let in 1607 to a group of English and Scottish Presbyterians, who renamed it.
2. Begijnhof Chapel

The city’s first clandestine chapel was created in 1665, when the Beguines converted two ordinary houses into a little church (see Museum Amstelkring). The Miracle of Amsterdam (see Moments in Amsterdam's History) is commemorated here.
3. Het Houten Huis

No. 34, Het Houten Huis, is the oldest house in Amsterdam, and one of only two woodfronted houses in the city. It predates the 1521 ban on the construction of wooden houses, introduced to reduce the risk of fire.
4. Courtyard with Wall Plaques

Set into the wall of the courtyard behind Het Houten Huis is a remarkable collection of wall plaques salvaged from demolished houses. In keeping with the religious nature of the Beguines, each one tells a Biblical story.
5. Mother Superior’s House

The grandest house, No. 26, belonged to the Mother Superior. In the 20th century, the last of the Beguines lived together here.
6. 17th- and 18th-Century Houses

After several devastating fires, most of the existing houses were built in the 17th and 18th centuries. They are typically tall and narrow, with large sash windows and spout or neck gables. They were the property of the sisterhood, so if a Beguine left or died, outsiders could not claim her house. Today they provide homes for 100 or so single women.
7. Statue of a Beguine

The statue shows a Beguine dressed in her traditionalfalie (headdress) and long garment of undyed cloth.
8. The Beguine in the Gutter

To make amends for her family’s conversion to Protestantism, Cornelia Arents requested in her will not to be buried in the church, but in the gutter outside. Her coffin was left inside the church on 2 May 1654, but the following day it had miraculously moved outside, where she was eventually buried. A plaque marks the spot.
9. Wall Plaque on No. 19

This handsome plaque illustrates the return from Egypt to Israel of Jesus, Mary and Joseph after the death of Herod.
10. Spui Entrance

Members of the public use the arched entrance from Gedempte Begijnensloot, but be sure to peep discreetly into the pretty vaulted and tiled passageway leading to Spui.

Practical Information

Trendy Café Esprit and traditional Café Hoppe are just round the corner in Spui (at Nos 10 and 18 respectively). Services are held in Dutch (daily) and French (Sundays) in the Roman Catholic Begijnhof Chapel. Services in English are held in the Protestant Engelse Kerk (Sundays). In summer, go to a lunchtime concert at the Engelse Kerk. Pick up an information booklet from Het Houten Huis. Spui (entrance on Gedempte Bejynensloot) 020 623 3565 (chapel)www.begijnhofamsterdam.nl Open 9am–5pm daily Begijnhof Chapel open 1–6:30pm Mon, 9:30am–6:30pm Tue–Fri, 9am–6pm Sat & Sun Free